Moreley leads British challenge

Cheshire's Joanne Morley led the British challenge on three under par 70, two off the lead, after the first round at the Weetabix British Women's Open at Woburn.

Aki Takamura, who plays on the Japanese Tour, and little-known Dane, Iben Tinning, shared the lead on five under par 68, one ahead of a cosmopolitan group of six that included Sweden's former world number one Annika Sorenstam and the 1988 champion from Australia, Corinne Dibnah.

The performance from 37-year-old Dibnah was positively heroic. She was suffering from severe back spasms and was in such agony that she had to call a doctor on the 13th fairway. Helped by a muscle relaxant she continued to limp her way up the leaderboard.

Dibnah has a long history of back trouble and it was on the practice ground on Tuesday that she felt the first twinge.

"But it wasn't too bad until this morning," she said.

"When I woke up it was a nightmare and I really just went out hoping to punt it up the fairway and not disgrace myself. But I'm sure I'll be fit to play tomorrow."

Morley, a former Solheim Cup player, opened with back-to-back birdies and made more at the fifth, tenth and 17th as she finished two shots back from pace-setter Aki Takamura, from Japan, who had five birdies in a row from the fifth and was five under after 13 holes.

"It's a good start but it should have been even better as I three-putted twice," said Morley, from Sale.

Another seven Britons - Jo Head, Lisa Hackney, Helen Dobson, Catriona Matthew, Pam Wright and Julie Forbes - all finished on two under 71, while Laura Davies recovered from a shaky start to stay in touch on 72 after a day of calm, ideal scoring conditions.

Davies, the 1986 champion, dropped two shots in the first three holes but bounced back with a birdie at the fourth and an eagle three at the long sixth where she holed a 40 foot putt - to reach the turn in one under par 34.

"After the disappointing start, I was always playing catch-up," said Davies. "But it was a fair enough score for a first round."

Head continued her fine run of form in the opening 18 holes.

The 26-year-old from Sussex, since joining the circuit three years ago, is well known as one of the identical, and glamorous, twins on tour.

Now her golf is attracting the attention, with three top 10 finishes in six events, including a course record, and career best 65 in the final round of the French Open.

Head, whose heroics have her lying 11th on the money list with over £21,000, attributes her upturn in form to reading books and listening to tapes on sports psychology.

"I've learned not to rush ahead, but to take one shot at a time," she said.

Head's sister, Samantha, finished on 77 and would need a good second round to make the cut.

Australia's Karrie Webb, the pre-event favourite, dropped shots at the last two holes for a 71.